In a world where only the lucky few people are gifted enough to summon phantoms (or beings they can call up to fight for them kind of like the familiars in The Golden Compass), a scribe who was raised to believe she didn’t have one embarks on her first journey and slowly starts unraveling her abilities. The story has two main plots, and has multiple points of views, but the overall main POVS are Marcus, the Heir who just got his phantom, and Ash, his best friend and scribe who was raised to believe she never had a phantom. Childhood best friends are then thrust on a journey with a few other friends and a very mysterious and dangerous but flirtatious sailor (who’s quite taken with Ash). The first plot line involves Marcus and his quest to prove himself to being the next Heir and completing training with his phantom. The second plot line involves Ash trying to understand why she can suddenly speak and control phantoms and why she has always had a voice in her head talking to her. Both of them are trying to learn to control their new abilities against the backdrop of war, assassins, and various deceptions. Also there is a side plot that isn’t really in the forefront as I think the author is teasing it for a bigger arc in the second book involving the Mar (sea people) wanting to kill Marcus & Crew, a corrupt villain named Tann who is trying to take over. Overall I did like the magic system in this book and I had fun with the plot. The pacing is a bit different and seeing as its definitely only just the beginning of the series I do look forward to how the story continues. My favorite part of the book would have to be the fun moments between Ash and Kaylin, Ash was a great protagonist and her inner voice was fun to read.

*Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*